It is always important for our loved ones to have a safe and comfortable stay at a nursing home when they get to that certain age. Since they are we family we want others to treat them as if they were their own family. Accidents happen all the time a nursing homes, but what do you do when you receive a phone call about your loved one that has fallen at the nursing home?
Although one’s safety comes first it is important to know the risk of falling when entering a home. The patient must be assessed for high or low risk falling. If the nursing home is aware of this they will know that someone must be around always to help assist.
According to the Centers for Disease there is about 1800 nursing home patients that die per year just from a serious fall. Over 2 million elder adults fall each year some with more injury than others. Most falls can be prevented if people and the patient are aware of the risks associated that cause the fall.
Common Injures From Falling
- Bone Fractures
- Lacerations to the head
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
- Bruising
- Spinal Injury
Each nursing home should have assessments in place that tell which patients are more likely to fall than others. If a nursing home does not properly follow this procedure it can most likely cause a serious accident. Some falls are bound to happen and cannot be prevented, but the injury can be reduced drastically.
When a nursing home fails to carry out basic procedures that is when patients are most at risk, also the staff and how many nurses there are working at the time plays a major role in higher fall risks. Staff should report and update the fall risk assessments as over time the patients get more and more at risk for falling.
So, if you are wondering what to do when a loved one suffers a serious fall or injury in the nursing home? First establish how the fall happened. Assess the injury and seek medical care if needed. Lastly, Call Me! I’ll answer any questions you may have and I’ll Make Them Pay!
Author: Tim Misny | For over four decades, personal injury lawyer Tim Misny has represented the injured victim in in birth injury, medical malpractice, and catastrophic injury/wrongful death cases, serving Cleveland, Akron/Canton, Columbus, Dayton and neighboring communities. You can reach Tim by email at misnylaw.com/ask-tim-a-question/ or call at 800-556-4769.
